No bid for MBL
31st Jan 2011 11:13
Home entertainment products distributor MBL is no longer in bid talks and that news has knocked more than one-fifth off of its share price. Trading conditions continue to deteriorate and MBL was hit by volume and margin pressure in the run up to Christmas. AIM-quoted MBL has already downgraded pro
Read moreLondon close: Shares jump after sluggish start
24th Jan 2011 16:46
Shares put their early indecisiveness behind them to close with good gains after a decent start on Wall Street. Banks were weak after comments by the head of the Independent Banking Commission over stricter capital rules and possible separation of the retail and investment bank arms. The political
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks edge higher
24th Jan 2011 14:49
After a morning of indecision, leading shares pushed on over the lunch time session, despite the weakness of the banking sector. Banks are weak after comments by the head of the Independent Banking Commission over stricter capital rules and possible separation of the retail and investment bank arms
Read moreGovernment's low-cost alcohol initiative lacks bottle
18th Jan 2011 14:24
The coalition government is set to announce new measures on Tuesday designed to cut back on the practice of retailers offering deep discounts on alcoholic drinks. Though the new proposals will not prevent shops from selling alcoholic drinks as "loss leaders", it is understood that the government wi
Read moreMorrisons to buy 16 Netto stores from Asda
12th Jan 2011 16:14
Supermarket chain Morrisons is planning to buy 16 Netto stores from the Danish discount supermarket's owner Asda as it seeks to catch up with larger rivals. The stores, which are costing Morrisons £28.1m, are mostly in its northern English heartland. The purchase depends on Asda's acquisition of Ne
Read moreLondon close: Miners hold back FTSE 100
10th Jan 2011 17:01
The top share index was firmly in negative territory at the close of trading, despite M&A excitement concerning Smith & Nephew The joint replacement specialist jumped more than 10% following reports it turned down a bid approach from US rival Johnson & Johnson just before Christmas. Sticking with
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners a drag
10th Jan 2011 14:20
Footsie moved sideways over the lunch time trading session. Mining stocks continue to weigh the blue-chip index down, but oil stocks provide some cheer. A decline in copper imports into commodity-hungry China sent prices for the red metal lower. Kazakhmys, which transports copper from its Kazakhsta
Read moreSupermarkets to create thousands of jobs
10th Jan 2011 14:12
Supermarkets group Sainsbury said it is to create 20,000 new permanent and part-time jobs over the next three years, the bulk of them in the north of England and in Scotland. Historically, Sainsbury has had a stronger presence in the south of England but the company is planning to beef up its prese
Read moreLondon open: Poor start to week
10th Jan 2011 08:23
A fresh round of takeover speculation and well-received numbers from Morrisons hasn't been enough to cancel losses across the mining sector. Artificial joint specialist Smith & Nephew rallied Monday following reports it turned down a bid approach from US rival Johnson & Johnson just before Christma
Read moreLondon pre-open: Retailers in focus
10th Jan 2011 07:34
A subdued start to the week is in prospect, with Friday's disappointing US jobs data still casting a shadow over proceedings. City traders expect the Footsie will open around 12 points below Friday's closing level. The Christmas trading updates from retailers are starting to come through, and the d
Read moreMorrisons claims 'good' Christmas
10th Jan 2011 07:01
Supermarket chain Wm Morrison has kept its forecasts for the full-year unchanged after growing like for like sales excluding petrol and VAT by a better than expected 1% in the six weeks to January 2. In his first Christmas as chief executive, Dalton Philips reported total sales excluding fuel and V
Read moreMorrisons may sue Fifa over failed World Cup bid
13th Dec 2010 16:30
Supermarket operator Morrisons is considering suing football's governing body Fifa after England's failed attempt to host the 2018 World Cup. It is asking Fifa to pay £1m, the amount Morrisons paid to be the official grocer for the England bid, to football charities. Morrisons chief executive Dalt
Read moreLondon close: Late recovery not quite enough
19th Nov 2010 16:57
Shares recovered heading into the weekend but not enough to haul the leading share index into the blue. Outsourcing giant Capita, which yesterday said revenue growth in the second half of 2010 had been subdued due to government cuts in public spending, suffered more falls today. Miners continue to
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks still struggling
19th Nov 2010 15:31
A poor start on Wall Street has done nothing to help a recovery in London where the leading index is stuck near 5,700. Outsourcing giant Capita, which yesterday said revenue growth in the second half of 2010 had been subdued due to government cuts in public spending, is suffering more falls today.
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Ireland, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline
18th Nov 2010 06:31
The Irish Government finally signalled yesterday that it may bow to international pressure and accept a multibillion-pound bailout, amid divisions in the Commons over whether Britain should contribute. While the details of any package may be several days away, there were growing signs that Britain c
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